Word Origin & History

scatter 1154, possibly a northern Eng. variant of M.E. schateren (see shatter), reflecting Norse influence. Scatterbrain is first recorded 1790. Scattershot (adj.) is attested from 1961, fig. use of term for a kind of gun charge meant to broadcast the pellets when fired.

Example Sentences for scatter

Pour nectarines into baking dish or ramekins, scatter blackberries on top and sprinkle with the processed mixture.

They are holding more time back than is typical to sell on a short-term basis, in what is known as the scatter market.

But it'll be damned near impossible to convene the faculty once they scatter to get away from the students.

Those who continue to plough, weed and scatter seeds face jail terms of up to two years.

When alarmed, they scatter in different directions, hiding behind clumps of vegetation.

We were about to graduate from art school and scatter in search of our fate.

And worse yet, they scatter when the idea of bringing oxygen to them is broached.

If you do get caught, scatter and meet up at some pre-determined rendezvous.

Scatter parsley over cod, and scatter with toasted almonds.

But the much smaller droplets in fog scatter light more, producing almost white bows sometimes tinged with faint color.